2 CHRONICLES LESSON 1


     2 Chronicles is actually a continuation of 1 Chronicles. It has
to do with the reign of Solomon in Israel. Toward the end of the book,
it deals with the 12 tribes of Israel breaking into 10 tribes of
Israel and 2 tribes making up Judah. This takes place before the
Babylonian captivity. It was, probably, compiled by Ezra from records
he found, when he returned from exile. 1 and 2 Kings cover the same
period of time. Kings was written before the exile, and Chronicles was
written after the return. The two tribes that made up Judah had a form
of religion which, possibly, centered in the temple in Jerusalem, but
they had wandered away from God, Himself. There is very little mention
in this of the ten tribes. This book is basically about the tribe of
Judah.

     II Chronicles 1:1 "And Solomon the son of David was strengthened
in his kingdom, and the LORD his God [was] with him, and magnified him
exceedingly."

     We must remember, that Solomon was quite young, when he began to
reign. Many scholars believe he was as young as twelve years old.
David was alive for a short period of Solomon's reign and, possibly,
guided him in the beginning. When God is for you, who can be against
you? His strength lay in the fact that God was guiding everything he
did. At this point in time, Solomon put his faith in God and not in
his own abilities. God was with Solomon, and he grew in the sight of
God and man.

     II Chronicles 1:2 "Then Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the
captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every
governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers."

     These were the same people that David had encouraged {in the last
lesson} to give for the construction of the temple, and they responded
greatly. The temple had not been built at this time. The ark was in
Jerusalem, but the tabernacle was still in Gibeon. Solomon had brought
them together, so there would be unity of purpose.

     II Chronicles 1:3 "So Solomon, and all the congregation with him,
went to the high place that [was] at Gibeon; for there was the
tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the
LORD had made in the wilderness."

     The congregation, that was with Solomon, was the leaders of the
various groups of people. Solomon led them to the spot where the
tabernacle was located. At this time, there was no other central place
of worship. The ark had been moved to Jerusalem, but the other things
of the tabernacle, that Moses had brought from the wilderness, were at
Gibeon. Solomon wanted to honor and give thanks to God in the only way
he knew how.

     II Chronicles 1:4 "But the ark of God had David brought up from
Kirjath-jearim to [the place which] David had prepared for it: for he
had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem."

     When David brought the ark to Jerusalem and erected a tent to
protect it, he was saying this would be the place where the LORD would
dwell with His people. The ark symbolized the presence of God.
Temporarily, the ark was separated from the brasen altar that they
used for burnt sacrifices.

     II Chronicles 1:5 "Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleel the
son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of
the LORD: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it."

     There had to be a central place to sacrifice unto the LORD. The
brasen altar was the original one that Bezaleel had made for the
tabernacle in the wilderness. Solomon would know that this altar was
acceptable to God. This was a large group of people who went with
Solomon to worship and sacrifice to God, as we see in the size of the
sacrifice.

     II Chronicles 1:6 "And Solomon went up thither to the brasen
altar before the LORD, which [was] at the tabernacle of the
congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it."

     When it says, Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings it means
he carried the animals to be sacrificed. The priests did the actual
act of the burning of the sacrifice. It was Solomon's offering,
however.  It was as if Solomon could not offer enough in his own
sight. He was grateful to God for this great honor He had bestowed
upon him.

     II Chronicles 1:7  "In that night did God appear unto Solomon,
and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee."

     It was either in a vision, or a dream, and it does not matter
which. The message is the same. God was so pleased with Solomon at
this point, that He offered to grant him a wish.

     II Chronicles 1:8 "And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed
great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his
stead."

     Solomon did not immediately ask for his wish. He first thanked
God for His goodness to David and to him. It had to be very humbling
for God to choose him, when he had older brothers, whom God could have
put in the office of king. He could not understand, but did appreciate
the confidence God had placed in him.

     II Chronicles 1:9 "Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my
father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like
the dust of the earth in multitude."

     The twelve tribes were a very large number of people. Just those
who David had gathered together for the twelve different watches, were
a tremendous number. 24,000 times 12 is 288,000, and they were just
those in service to the king. At this time, the 12 tribes would have
been several million people. Solomon had learned his lesson from
David, and was not about to number them. His statement showed a
fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham. Solomon wanted to rule in
the manner God would have him rule.

     II Chronicles 1:10 "Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may
go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy
people, [that is so] great?"

     Solomon was aware that he was not capable of ruling so great a
people without supernatural wisdom and knowledge from God. This, then,
was his request. He wanted to be a good ruler. He knew with the power
of God working in his life, he could be that leader. He asked for
wisdom to lead his people. In 1 Kings chapter 3 verse 9, his request
was expressed that he might have an understanding heart to judge thy
people. He wanted to be able to discern between good and evil. In a
sense, that is the same thing. If he had the gift of wisdom from God,
he would have this ability.

     II Chronicles 1:11 "And God said to Solomon, Because this was in
thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor
the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast
asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my
people, over whom I have made thee king:"

     This request had to please God. It was very unselfish. God knew
from this, that Solomon had a pure heart. He loved God and His people
more than he loved himself. The word "because" is strong here. The
blessings Solomon did receive hinged on this word.

     II Chronicles 1:12 "Wisdom and knowledge [is] granted unto thee;
and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of
the kings have had that [have been] before thee, neither shall there
any after thee have the like."

     Saul and David had reigned before Solomon, and they had been very
wealthy. It is hard to believe that he could have even more than they
had. Solomon would become so wealthy and build such magnificent
things, that even the Queen of Sheba would come to see, if it was
true.  She came partially because of the great wisdom he possessed, as
well.  Wisdom and knowledge is the greatest gift, aside from
salvation, that any person could ever receive. The riches, wealth, and
honor are a by-product of wisdom and knowledge. Wisdom is a gift from
God, and knowledge is accumulated learning. The gift of knowledge,
here, is a quickening of his ability to learn and retain knowledge.
This is similar to what the Holy Spirit does as our Teacher and our
Guide.

     II Chronicles 1:13  "Then Solomon came [from his journey] to the
high place that [was] at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the
tabernacle of the congregation, and reigned over Israel."

     Solomon had been empowered of God to rule over Israel justly. The
tabernacle was of the congregation. It was a place where they could go
and feel they had been in contact with God. It was their place of
contact. The tabernacle was to benefit the people.

     II Chronicles 1:14 "And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen:
and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand
horsemen, which he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at
Jerusalem."

     One of the best ways to avoid war, is for your enemies around you
to realize that you would win, if they attacked you. This show of
force, would help bring peace. David had defeated many of these
enemies before his death, and had set up taxes against those defeated.
There would be a constant flow of wealth to the king of Israel,
because of these defeated foes, who had to pay tribute.

     II Chronicles 1:15 "And the king made silver and gold at
Jerusalem [as plenteous] as stones, and cedar trees made he as the
sycomore trees that [are] in the vale for abundance."

     God had blessed Israel with plentiful crops. Their neighbors
needed grain. They gave cedar trees in abundance to Israel, and Israel
gave them grain. We have been studying in 1 Chronicles about the vast
amount of gold and silver, that David had gathered for the building of
the temple. Solomon would gather even more, it seems. The wealth of
Solomon would be widely known in the world of that day. Without the
expense of war, the wealth grew mightily. Sycamore trees are abundant
in Israel. The cedars were floated in for building purposes, because
the wood does not decay easily.

     II Chronicles 1:16 "And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt,
and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a
price."

     All things that the king desired were purchased for him. He had
so much wealth, that he could have all things his heart desired.

     II Chronicles 1:17 "And they fetched up, and brought forth out of
Egypt a chariot for six hundred [shekels] of silver, and an horse for
an hundred and fifty: and so brought they out [horses] for all the
kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, by their means."

     A shekel is a half ounce of silver. This means that each chariot
cost 300 ounces of silver, or $1,500.00 at $5.00 per ounce, our
present price. The horse cost 75 ounces of silver, or $375.00, at
$5.00 per ounce. Notice, Solomon's generosity to the kings of the
Hittites and of Syria.







                      2 Chronicles 1 Questions


1.  What does 2 Chronicles cover?
2.  What tribe is covered in this book?
3.  Who compiled the book?
4.  What other book in the Bible is about the same thing?
5.  How was Solomon strengthened in his kingdom?
6.  How old do many scholars believe Solomon was, when he began to
    reign?
7.  Who did Solomon gather to him in verse 2?
8.  Where was the tabernacle at this time?
9.  Where did Solomon and the representatives of the congregation go
    to sacrifice?
10. Where was the ark at this time?
11. The ark symbolized the ___________ of God.
12. The brasen altar at Gibeon had been built by ____________.
13. How many offerings did Solomon offer on the brasen altar?
14. When did God appear to Solomon?
15. What did God offer Solomon?
16. What did Solomon do, even before he asked for anything?
17. What did Solomon ask for?
18. How did Solomon describe the people he was leading?
19. How did God answer the request of Solomon?
20. What all did Solomon receive of God?
21. When Solomon left Gibeon, what did he do?
22. How many chariots did Solomon have?
23. How many horsemen did he have?
24. What is the easiest way to have peace, besides from God?
25. Where did Solomon get his horses?
26. How much did a chariot cost?
27. What is a shekel?
28. How much did a horse cost?
29. Who did Solomon give horses to?